Can the First Minister clarify whether the permanent secretary’s guidance concerning the United Kingdom election on 4 July will result in the delaying of the announcement on the small vessel replacement programme?

In an answer to a parliamentary question that I gave on Tuesday, I included the guidance that has been given to me by the permanent secretary. Regrettably, from my perspective, that means that a significant amount of the explanation of the Government’s programme will have to wait until after the United Kingdom election has been concluded.

We do not anticipate that an announcement on the small vessel replacement programme will be made before the end of the pre-election period, as consideration of the business case by ministers remains on-going, but if there is any alteration to that view, I will share that with Parliament.

That concludes First Minister’s question time. There will now be a short suspension to allow those who are leaving the chamber and the public gallery to do so.

Meeting suspended.

On resuming—